2 weeks Ago
$0.56 GAAP EPS; $0.60 Operating EPS 22% increase in operating EPS year-over-year 5% increase in operating revenue, 6% decrease in operating non-interest expense Y/Y 3.
24% net interest margin,10 basis point increase over linked quarter 59.5% efficiency ratio, best result in two years 0.42% delinquent and non-performing loans to total loans, lowest in nearly two decades BOSTON , April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
(NYSE: BHLB ) today reported results for the first quarter of 2025. These results along with comparison periods are summarized below: Berkshire CEO Nitin Mhatre stated, "The 22% increase in first quarter operating EPS year-over-year reflects revenue growth and improved efficiency, including the cumulative benefit of last year's strategic initiatives. Operating leverage was a positive 5% quarter-over-quarter and 11% year-over year.
Period-end loans were up 4% year-over-year, with growth continuing quarter-over-quarter. Credit performance remains strong and during the quarter the bank completed the sale of its Upstart consumer loan portfolio. First quarter operating return on tangible common equity improved to 9.
7% from 8.7% year-over-year. Our teams remain focused on serving our clients while also advancing integration planning as we move toward our anticipated merger of equals with Brookline Bancorp.
" Mr. Mhatre continued, "Berkshire Bank's multi-year Community Comeback program concluded by exceeding its $5 billion goal to lend and invest across the company's markets, a testament to the impact we were able to create alongside our clients. Our impact is further highlighted in our latest Sustainability Report.
We continue to be recognized for our efforts, most recently by Newsweek magazine for the fourth consecutive year as one of the most trusted companies in America. I thank all of our Berkshire Bankers for their contributions toward our financial success and service to our communities." Berkshire CFO Brett Brbovic stated, "First quarter net interest income increased 3% linked quarter and the net interest margin increased 10 basis points to 3.
24%, benefiting from a 12 basis point decrease in the cost of deposits to 2.18%. Operating non-interest income decreased $2.
6 million linked quarter and increased $3.4 million year-over-year due primarily to changes in loan related income. The provision for credit losses decreased $0.
5 million linked quarter and operating non-interest expense decreased $3.1 million , with decreases in most categories except seasonally higher compensation and occupancy expense. The allowance for credit losses on loans increased 2 basis points to 1.
24%. Capital remained stong, with the tangible common equity ratio increasing to 9.9% of assets.
Tangible book value per share advanced 3% linked quarter to $25.50 ." Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
( NYSE: BHLB ) is the parent company of Berkshire Bank, a relationship-driven, community-focused bank with $12.0 billion in assets and 83 financial centers in New England and New York . Berkshire is headquartered in Boston and offers commercial, retail, wealth, and private banking solutions.
Berkshire has a pending agreement to merge with Brookline Bancorp, Inc., a multi-bank holding company with $11.5 billion in assets and branches in Massachusetts , Rhode Island , and New York .
1Q 2025 Financial Highlights (comparisons are to the linked quarter unless otherwise noted). Income Statement. First quarter GAAP income was $26 million , or $0.
56 per share. Operating earnings totaled $28 million , or $0.60 per share.
GAAP results included $2.5 million in primarily merger-related non-operating expenses. Operating earnings increased $1.
6 million , or 6%, linked quarter and 32% year-over-year, with ongoing positive operating leverage from operating revenue growth and operating expense reduction. Reflecting the merger-related share issuance in December 2024 , operating EPS was unchanged at $0.60 linked quarter, and was up 22% year-over-year.
The efficiency ratio was 59.5%, improving to the best quarterly result in two years. Quarterly net interest income increased linked quarter by $2.
9 million to $89.8 million in 1Q25. The net interest margin increased 10 basis points to 3.
24%. The earning asset yield decreased 7 basis points. The loan yield decreased 8 basis points.
The cost of funds decreased 17 basis points. The cost of deposits decreased 12 basis points. Provision for credit losses totaled $5.
5 million , decreasing $0.5 million linked quarter. Net loan charge-offs totaled $3.
5 million , compared to $3.3 million linked quarter. The annualized loan net charge-off ratio was 0.
15% for the quarter. GAAP and operating non-interest income was $21 million . The operating measure decreased $2.
5 million linked quarter. SBA loan sale gains decreased $1.4 million from an elevated level in 4Q24 and increased $1.
6 million year-over-year. Non-interest expense totaled $70 million on a GAAP basis and $68 million on an operating basis. The operating measure decreased $3.
1 million linked quarter and $4.5 million year-over-year. Non-operating expense primarily related to merger costs and totaled $2.
5 million in 1Q25 and $6.6 million in 4Q24. Operating non-interest expense was down linked quarter in most major categories, except for seasonally higher compensation and occupancy expense.
The effective tax rate was 26% in 1Q25 compared to 24% in 1Q24. Loans . Compared to the linked quarter, total loans increased $44 million , or 0.
5% to $9.4 billion . The Bank sold the remaining portfolio of Upstart related consumer loans which totaled $7 million at year-end 2024.
First quarter consumer loan net charge-offs of $1.3 million included the net loss on this sale. The quarter-end allowance for credit losses on loans increased 2 basis points to 1.
24% of total loans The period-end allowance increased to 501% of non-performing loans from 469% linked quarter. Non-performing loans to total loans was 0.25% at period-end.
Delinquent and non-performing loans were 0.42% of total loans, the lowest level in nearly two decades. Deposits .
Compared to the linked quarter, total end of period deposits decreased $495 million to $9.9 billion . Total end of period deposits excluding payroll and brokered deposits increased $11 million linked quarter and increased $460 million , or 6%, year-over year (also excluding deposits sold in the 2024 branch sale).
Equity. Total shareholders' equity increased $29 million , or 3%, linked quarter to $1.2 billion .
The ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets measured 9.9%, increasing from 9.4% linked quarter.
Proposed Transaction with Brookline Bancorp, Inc . On December 16, 2024 , Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., Commerce Acquisition Sub, Inc.
, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire formed solely to facilitate the merger ("Merger Sub") and Brookline Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (" Brookline "), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"). The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into Brookline , with Brookline as the surviving entity, and immediately thereafter, Brookline will merge with and into Berkshire , with Berkshire as the surviving entity (collectively, the "Merger").
As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Brookline will cease, and Berkshire will continue as the surviving corporation. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, each outstanding share of Brookline common stock will be exchanged for the right to receive 0.42 shares of Berkshire common stock.
Holders of Brookline common stock will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Berkshire common stock. As a result of the proposed transaction and a $100 million common stock offering by Berkshire to support the proposed transaction, Berkshire stockholders will own approximately 55% and Brookline stockholders will own approximately 45% of the outstanding shares of the combined company. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and approvals from Berkshire and Brookline stockholders.
Conference Call and Investor Presentation. Berkshire will conduct a conference call/webcast at 9:00 a.m.
Eastern time on Thursday, April 24, 2025 to discuss results for the quarter and provide guidance about expected future results. Instructions for listening to the call may be found at the Company's website at ir.berkshirebank.
com . Additional materials relating to the call may also be accessed at this website. The call will be archived at the website and will be available for an extended period of time.
Forward Looking Statements: This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify these statements from the use of the words "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "plan," "potential," "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "remain," "target" and similar expressions. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from expectations described in the forward-looking statements.
For a discussion of such factors, please see the sections titled "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Berkshire's most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov .
These factors include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of Berkshire or Brookline to terminate the merger agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Berkshire or Brookline ; delays in completing the proposed transaction with Brookline ; the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction) or stockholder approvals, or to satisfy any of the other conditions to the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all, including the ability of Berkshire and Brookline to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the impact of certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction on the parties' ability to pursue certain business opportunities and strategic transactions; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; and potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our expectations only as of the date of this document. Berkshire does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
INVESTOR CONTACT Kevin Conn Investor Relations 617.641.9206 [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT Gary Levante Corporate Communications 413.
447.1737 [email protected] NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This document contains certain non-GAAP financial measures in addition to results presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide the reader with additional supplemental perspectives on operating results, performance trends, and financial condition.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures; they should be read and used in conjunction with the Company's GAAP financial information. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is provided below. In all cases, it should be understood that non-GAAP measures do not depict amounts that accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders.
An item which management excludes when computing non-GAAP operating earnings can be of substantial importance to the Company's results for any particular quarter or year. The Company's non-GAAP operating earnings information set forth is not necessarily comparable to non- GAAP information which may be presented by other companies. Each non-GAAP measure used by the Company in this report as supplemental financial data should be considered in conjunction with the Company's GAAP financial information.
The Company utilizes the non-GAAP measure of operating earnings in evaluating operating trends, including components for operating revenue and expense. These measures exclude amounts which the Company views as unrelated to its normalized operations. These items primarily include restructuring costs.
Restructuring costs generally consist of costs and losses associated with the disposition of assets and liabilities and lease terminations, including costs related to branch consolidations. The Company also calculates operating earnings per share based on its measure of operating earnings and diluted common shares. The Company views these amounts as important to understanding its operating trends, particularly due to the impact of accounting standards related to merger and acquisition activity.
Analysts also rely on these measures in estimating and evaluating the Company's performance. Adjustments in 2025 were primarily related to the pending merger. Adjustments in 2024 were primarily related to the pending merger, branch sales and consolidations, and loss on sale of securities.
Management believes that the computation of non-GAAP operating earnings and operating earnings per share may facilitate the comparison of the Company to other companies in the financial services industry. The Company also adjusts certain equity related measures to exclude intangible assets due to the importance of these measures to the investment community. SOURCE Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
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